Petunia plant named ‘DOPETPOTUPLURE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Dopetpotuplure’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and mounding to hanging plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large deep red-colored flowers with deep purplish red-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETPOTUPLURE’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR AND APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders'Rights application filed on Mar. 26, 2020, application number 2020/0871.There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dopetpotuplure’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely branching and early-floweringPetunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2017 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT17-000000-024, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPetunia X hybrida identified as code number TT-0753, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetpotuplure’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dopetpotuplure’ as a new and distinctPetunia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and mounding to hanging plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3 Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large deep red-colored flowers with deep purplish red-colored        centers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower shape asflowers of plants of the new Petunia are more rounded than and not asstar-shaped as flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in plant and growthhabit as plants of the new Petunia are more compact than and not asvigorous as plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘Duepotdared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,704. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Duepotdared’ differprimarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are larger than plants of        ‘Duepotdared’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Duepotdared’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker and more        intense red in color than flowers of plants of ‘Duepotdared’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Dopetpotuplure’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 22-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, Fifth Edition, 2007, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetpotuplure’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT17-000000-024, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT-0753, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            mounding to hanging plant habit; freely branching habit with            about eight primary lateral branches each with about twelve            secondary branches developing after pinching; moderately            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 28            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 28            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 65 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 35 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing and fully developed.—Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            leathery; semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146C; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.5 mm. Diameter: About 2.3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 350 flowers and flower buds developing per plant;            flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance: None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,            plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 59A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 2.8 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 2.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat            texture and luster: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Tube            texture and luster: Rippled, pubescent; semi-glossy. Color:            Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 45B. Petal            lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 51B. Petal lobe,            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53A; venation and            towards the center, close to 59A; color does not change with            development Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 51B; venation, close to 47A; color does not change with            development. Flower throat: Close to 59B; venation, close to            59A. Flower tube: Proximally, close to 62D and distally,            close to 59A; venation, close to 59B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a            tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter:            About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 143A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 143B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 146A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            155D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther            color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:            Close to 156D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.9 cm. Style color:            Close to 157A. Stigma diameter: About 1.2 mm. Stigma shape:            Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to            145A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 200 during            the flowering season. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            3.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 161C.            Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 80. Length: About 0.2 mm.            Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 200A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures    ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Petunia plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named‘Dopetpotuplure’ as illustrated and described.